The Forests Products Commission Western Australia (FPC) suffered a significant blow when fire broke out in Lewana Plantation near Nannup, affecting 1700 hectares of FPC pine. Strategic Asset Protection Manager David Guille said that these losses account for an important part of the FPC’s entire plantation estate. Source: Timberbiz

“Despite burning under relatively benign weather conditions the fire ran down the Blackwood River valley for two days before being brought under control,” Mr. Guille said.

“It’s a big hit to our softwood estate, and the trees we’ve lost represent around a years’ worth of the States timber supply,” Mr Guille said.

The firefighting effort was significant, with many FPC staff members taking on important roles and working long hours to do their part to control the fire.

“The FPC staff involved in fighting the fire have been fantastic representatives of the FPC, but we also want to thank everyone who stayed back and took on more work to keep core forest operations going,” Mr Guille said.